Issue - meetings
VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS
Meeting: 28/10/2019 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 7)
VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS
To receive verbal updates from each of the Scrutiny Leads.
(Time allocated per update – 5 minutes)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor Dipa Das Scrutiny Lead for Housing and Regeneration
Noted that Members:
1. Had, had the opportunity to undertake site visits to local markets in order to look at how these could be improved; and
2. Would have the opportunity at the next meeting question the Mayor on the Housing Allocations Policy.
Councillor Tarik Khan Scrutiny Lead for Resources and Finance
Noted that the Lead Member had, had a series of meetings with Neville Murton (Corporate Director of Resources) and Kevin Bartle (Divisional Director of Finance), Procurement and Audit and spotlight sessions were being planned to consider the (i) Rent Scheme; and (ii) Budget.
Accordingly, it was agreed that the Scrutiny Lead Members should review the “Budget Pressures” with their opposite number within the Cabinet.
Councillor Bex White Scrutiny Lead for Community Safety and
Environment
Noted that there had been a session last week focusing on “Resident Engagement with Safer neighbourhood Panels”. It was noted that over 20 residents had attended and the use of digital engagement had enabled the active participation by all those in attendance. There would be a report to the 16th December 2019 meeting looking at how to improve engagement.
In addition, the following Councillors were asked to provide a written update for circulation with the minutes:
(i) Kahar Chowdhury Scrutiny Lead for Health and Adults;
(ii) Sufia Alam Scrutiny Lead for Children and Education
Meeting: 23/09/2019 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 7)
VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS
To receive verbal updates from each of the Scrutiny Leads.
(Time allocated per update – 5 minutes)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor Bex White Scrutiny Lead for Community Safety & Environment
Noted (i) that Councillor White had been continuing her regular meetings with the Cabinet Members and Chief Officers relevant to her portfolio; (ii) on 25th September, 2019 she would be undertaking a visit to the reuse and recycling centre (RRC); (iii) there would be a Scrutiny Challenge Session on resident engagement with safer neighbourhood panels on Wednesday, 23rd October, 2019 11.00 a.m.; (iv) attended the Mayors Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Board which had considered how to reduce silos within the Council and share intelligence between the various enforcement officers within Tower Hamlets.
Councillor Sufia Alam Scrutiny Lead for Children & Education
Noted that (i) on 8th October, 2019 Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee will be taking a “deep dive” into special educational needs and disability (SEND) to look at the improvement journey that the service is undertaking in preparation for an upcoming inspection; (ii) Has had meetings with the Lead Member to discuss what areas she intends to focus on in her challenge sessions; (iii) Following the Full Council Motion regarding the SEND funding crisis the Mayor had written to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to invest further to bring an end to the SEND funding crisis.
Councillor James King Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Noted that (i) The Chair had attended the Transformation and Improvement Board which had considered (a) the strategic approach being taken to coordinate and deliver regeneration across the Borough; and (b) considered the significant transformation and improvement activity currently undertaken in the Council; (ii) The Chair had a meeting with Sharon Godman - Director of strategy, policy and performance; (iii) The Chair had attended a budget briefing with Councillor Tarik Khan Scrutiny Lead for Resources and Finance, Councillor Eve McQuillan and Councillor Sufia Alam (Vice-Chair) Scrutiny Lead for Children & Education; and (iv) The Chair would be arranging a spotlight session on Place Based Decisions.
Meeting: 29/07/2019 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 9)
VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS
(Time allocated – 5 minutes each)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor Dipa Das Scrutiny Lead for Housing & Regeneration
· Noted that at the first meeting on 22nd July 2019 the Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee had considered (i) the Fire Safety Scrutiny Review Action Plan; (ii) the proposed amendments to Tower Hamlets CHR Allocations Scheme; and (iii) the Social Housing Landlords Performance Report – Quarter 4 2018/19. In addition, it had been decided that implementation of Homeless Reduction Act one year on should be the challenge session topic for 2019/20;
· Whilst at the next meeting the spotlight session would be focusing on High Streets and Town Centres with reference to supporting new and existing business;
· The Lead Member had informed the Committee that she had, had a meeting with Corporate Director for Place Ann Sutcliffe and she had requested that a briefing to be provided on the delivery of 2,000 new home and Rent Levels; and
· It was noted that Cabinet at its meeting on the 31st July 2019 would be considering a report on the Strategic Review of Housing Management and once that is agreed the KPI’s will be set.
Councillor Kahar Chowdhury Scrutiny Lead for Health & Adults
· Noted that at the first meeting on 8th July, 2019 Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub Committee had received and considered (i) Healthy Life Expectancy in Tower Hamlets - Annual Public Health Report of the Director of Public Health 2018; (ii) the Work Programme and (iii) Adult Social Care Charging Impact Assessment and asked for feed-back on certain areas where it was felt clarity was required; and
· In September the Sub-Committee will be considering Childhood Obesity and All Age Physical Activity in order to review the actions that the Council has taken and review actions for future planning. Also agreeing the finding and recommendations of the 2018/19 Diabetes Challenge and imputing into the Health and Well Being Strategy
Councillor Alam Scrutiny Lead for Children & Education
· Although absent she had asked that her congratulations on the Ofsted rating of the Council’s Children’s Services department as ‘good’ be placed on record which Ofsted had said was 'remarkable progress' and was committed to working with Children’s Services to towards achieving “outstanding” in the very near future.
Councillor Bex White Scrutiny Lead for Community Safety & Environment
· Noted that the Lead Member was currently working on the development of several coherent themes from within her portfolio;
· Noted that there had been three scoping session in preparation for the October challenge session on Safer Communities and how the Council; ward councillors and partner agencies can develop a meaningful infrastructure so that resident’s voices are heard;
· Noted that the Lead Member had, had meetings Councillor David Edgar (Cabinet Member for Environment) on the Parking Review and Councillor Rachel Blake (Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Planning, Air Quality and Tackling Poverty) on the Air Quality Delivery Plan and the reasons for the move of the Air Quality Action Plan monitoring to the Health and Well-Being;
· Noted that the Lead Member was working with Councillor Asma Begum (Deputy Mayor ... view the full minutes text for item 9